Why do many here not consider themselves runners despite running regularly?

Guilty! You're right it's a thing! Personally I think it's still challenging to do more than a few miles so I'm not a 'natural' so us hesitate to say I'm 'a runner'. But realistically yes I accept I'm probably doing better than many others. I suppose it's how you measure yourself against personal goals?? Maybe one day...

I don't think I am because I am still very slow. My perception is runners are 10 min milers

I'm just starting. I did C25K week 7 day 1 and jogged 1.8 miles this morning. I'll only ever jog slowly for medical reasons, and my goals are all time-focused in that I want to be able to do it for an hour.

If I end up jogging faster during that hour and covering more distance in that time? That's cool. If not, I'll just walk the rest of my usual route. Right now, it currently takes me 1:25 to walk it.

Will I be a runner then? I don't know. I'll be a jogger, I guess.

moyer566 wrote: »

I don't think I am because I am still very slow. My perception is runners are 10 min milers

Why would pace matter at all? If you run at least once per week, I'd say you're a runner. That's like saying you're not a driver because you drive slow. You're still driving.

beachhouse758 wrote: »

I don't really define myself by the exercise that I choose to do. I am a slow-runner/fast-shuffler, but I am not into the running lifestyle (running groups, races, Personal Records, collecting race t-shirts, little number bumper stickers with my prefer distance etc...)
I also do yoga, but I don't consider myself a yogi/yogini.

I am not "dedicated" to a certain sport. I just do it, sometimes.

Just like I wouldn't say "I am a driver" -- I just drive when I have to.

While I totally believe you are free to identify or not identify as you choose, this isn't an argument that you *should*, I did want to throw out there there are "runners" who are not into racing, PRs, bumper sticker or groups. There is a type of runner that just runs for the sake of running.
That's not me but there are people out there.

beachhouse758 wrote: »

3dogsrunning wrote: »

beachhouse758 wrote: »

I don't really define myself by the exercise that I choose to do. I am a slow-runner/fast-shuffler, but I am not into the running lifestyle (running groups, races, Personal Records, collecting race t-shirts, little number bumper stickers with my prefer distance etc...)
I also do yoga, but I don't consider myself a yogi/yogini.

I am not "dedicated" to a certain sport. I just do it, sometimes.

Just like I wouldn't say "I am a driver" -- I just drive when I have to.

While I totally believe you are free to identify or not identify as you choose, this isn't an argument that you *should*, I did want to throw out there there are "runners" who are not into racing, PRs, bumper sticker or groups. There is a type of runner that just runs for the sake of running.
That's not me but there are people out there.

I am sure there are runners who are not into what I listed under what I consider to be characteristics of the "runner lifestyle/generalization"

As I am sure there are just as many people who are into a lot of the "stuff" and then end up doing very little running.

That's neither here or there. I guess I just don't call myself "a runner" because it is not a huge, defining part of my life.

I don't have a passion for running, it's more like an inclination.

Just something to do.

*shrugs*

My point wasn't that you should call yourself a runner. I specifically said it's up to you. My point was for others who might be reading this thread that that there are other, almost contradictory, definitions of what a runner is.

3dogsrunning wrote: »

beachhouse758 wrote: »

3dogsrunning wrote: »

beachhouse758 wrote: »

I don't really define myself by the exercise that I choose to do. I am a slow-runner/fast-shuffler, but I am not into the running lifestyle (running groups, races, Personal Records, collecting race t-shirts, little number bumper stickers with my prefer distance etc...)
I also do yoga, but I don't consider myself a yogi/yogini.

I am not "dedicated" to a certain sport. I just do it, sometimes.

Just like I wouldn't say "I am a driver" -- I just drive when I have to.

While I totally believe you are free to identify or not identify as you choose, this isn't an argument that you *should*, I did want to throw out there there are "runners" who are not into racing, PRs, bumper sticker or groups. There is a type of runner that just runs for the sake of running.
That's not me but there are people out there.

I am sure there are runners who are not into what I listed under what I consider to be characteristics of the "runner lifestyle/generalization"

As I am sure there are just as many people who are into a lot of the "stuff" and then end up doing very little running.

That's neither here or there. I guess I just don't call myself "a runner" because it is not a huge, defining part of my life.

I don't have a passion for running, it's more like an inclination.

Just something to do.

*shrugs*

My point wasn't that you should call yourself a runner. I specifically said it's up to you. My point was for others who might be reading this thread that that there are other, almost contradictory, definitions of what a runner is.

hmmm, my bad. I was trying to clarify my answer as it pertains to the original question. I wasn't directing my response to you or trying to argue your point (shouldn't have used the quote level thing on my earlier post)

moyer566 wrote: »

I don't think I am because I am still very slow. My perception is runners are 10 min milers

I did not consider myself a runner until I was able to run for 30 minutes continually. Why 30 minutes? No reason, it's just the amount of time I got stuck in my head.

I think it's pretty common for newer runners to have some arbitrary idea of what it is that makes someone "a runner," and not to think of themselves as runners until either they meet that arbitrary standard or they see enough runners that they revise their standard.

As to the 10 minute mile . . . I know a runner who has never run a 10 minute mile in her life. This has not prevented her from completing multiple marathons, half marathons, and ultras. I might walk and almost keep up with her easy running pace, but she is definitely a runner.

I 'became' a runner when I started looking forward to 10 mile runs on Saturday morning. Before that I ran but never really enjoyed it. I wasn't "a runner".

segacs wrote: »

I think of a "runner" as someone who runs competitively and seriously. People who train for half-marathons or marathons, people who run daily or regularly, rain or shine, people who time their intervals and splits, people who have all sorts of fancy gear.

In my mind, I'm not a runner, not really. I started C25K last spring and just ran my first-ever 5k race in September. But I'd never run before that in my life. I only go when the weather's nice and the urge hits. I jog more than run. I don't have fancy gear and I don't worry about my times. And I will do other stuff in the winter 'cause the idea of running indoors on a treadmill bores me to tears. I'd rather ski.

(FWIW, I do consider myself a skier. But that's probably because I've been skiing for 30 years. I've been running -- sort of -- for 6 months.)

Your post made me think of the Nike "No Games, just Sport" ad in the movie "What Women Want"

Like "running does not care if you...."

... :bigsmile:

In my mind you are a runner if you go out there and run for any reason voluntarily. Now if you're just running away as fast as you can from a zombie apocalypse then I'd say 'no'. Why limit those who can call themselves runners to certain standards? You may be an avid-runner, or a 'if I feel like it I'll go for a run runner' or a 'if I ran any slower I'd be crawling runner' or a 'I'm just happy I can run for 10 seconds without dying runner' or a 'so fast you're an Olympian runner'. But regardless you're a runner.

I've always felt that running has less restrictions on the usage of the term than say some other careers would have. But that's me, and there's plenty of people who would argue that I'm full of it.

Personally, although I do run, I do not consider myself or describe myself a runner - I've never organised my life around the sport and it is an activity that I use to feed other activity - i'm interested in running as complement to activity in such a way that I might even complete things like tri's, etc and still would not consider myself a runner. My physiology, attitude, weight, speed and attention for this sport are not dedicated, nor have they ever been to serious level. I life weights but I'm not a weight-lifter. I climb and but don't call myself a climber. I reserve these monikers for people with aptitude or attitude or perseverance to levels beyond my own. I would call myself a cyclist (on a good day or in my heyday) and differentiate how I look at running vs. how I look at cycling.

Probably the attitude I have about the sport creates a minor barrier to how much I practice it - surely if I embraced it more, I'd practice it more - chicken and egg problem.

But, since it will likely never be my primary focus, I'm pretty ok just saying "I run" rather than "I'm a runner".

edit: how other people describe themselves is their own business. If you run slower than me, less than me and still call yourself a "runner" - that's great! I have zero cares in the world on how the term is personally used.

I think people underestimate their efforts

people become runners as soon as they go out and start to move their legs, despite the pace or distance

obviously commitment is needed, if you get out once a month the situation is different

on the contrary, maybe this is just my experience, but people tend to forget how hard is to get out 2-3-4-5 days a week and run, just because you got used to it

McCloud33 wrote: »

I think a lot of people look at it much like they would a carpenter/chef/mechanic. Just because I can nail two boards together doesn't make me a carpenter...just because I can cook dinner doesn't make me a chef...and just because I can change the oil/headlights on my car doesn't make me a mechanic.

There are all sorts of things in life that we do that doesn't mean we're proficient in. That's why a lot of people will say "I run" but not "I'm a runner".

This is a good post. I am not sure why this " I am not a runner" mindset exists, but it does. I have been running consistently for over 17 years. I have run numerous HMs, and several marathons. I have run a sub 4 hour marathon. I have been averaging between 40-60 miles per week this year. I plan to attempt to qualify for the Boston marathon next weekend. Most of my free time is spent either running, reading about running or thinking about running. People refer to me as a runner all the time and that's okay. But I still find it uncomfortable to refer to myself as a runner.

I think I'd be one of those.

I run 5k in just under 29 minutes. I run 2-3 times a week. I don't call myself a runner at the moment because I used to be a runner and for me there is a difference. I used to be able to just head off for a 2 hour run and I'd feel amazing for it. I'm struggling to build up my running fitness. Its slow work. I run but I'm not a runner, not yet. When I am running fit and can do 10k in under an hour again I'll then be a runner.

If I never get that back at least I'll be fit with running as part of my fitness programme. Sure I have a Garmin Forerunner and wont wear it until I'm "a runner" again. Silly I know.